The Sacramento Kings’ seven-game winning streak under interim head coach Doug Christie concluded on Tuesday in Milwaukee. Sacramento is anticipated to resume its winning trajectory against the Houston Rockets tonight, partly due to the visitors competing on the second night of a back-to-back schedule.
My forecast for the Rockets versus Kings centres on a certain asset of Sacramento that has enhanced under Christie.
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Prediction for the Rockets versus Kings matchup
My optimal choice: Malik Monk More than 2.5 three-pointers (-120 at bet365)
My evaluation
The most significant change in the Sacramento Kings since Doug Christie replaced Mike Brown, beyond the sheer pleasure of winning, is their offensive performance. Sacramento’s offensive rating over the past nine games has been 118.0, an increase from 114.4 during the initial 31 games of the season.
The defence has improved, with a rating of 111.8 compared to 112.9, but the attacking increase is particularly notable.
This is likely to occur when your most proficient shooter attempts shots more frequently. Following the coaching transition, Malik Monk has attempted 8.3 three-point shots per game, achieving a conversion rate of only 30.3%. During Brown’s tenure, he attempted an average of 6.7 three-point shots per game, successfully converting 35.4% of those attempts.
Monk’s subpar shooting should be seen as an anomaly. He has had a minimum of 35% shooting accuracy from three-point range in each of his last four seasons. His current difficulties will revert to the mean, which is an encouraging indication.
Incorporating a greater number of three-point attempts will be important to that. Monk has attempted a minimum of seven three-point shots in six of his eight games under Christie’s leadership. Significantly, he achieved 11 points in Boston and 12 points against the Grizzlies. Such shot profiles were predominantly absent while Brown established the parameters.
Monk may be hindered tonight due to a troubling groin injury, which lists him as probable, while contending with a Houston Rockets defence that permits only 34.6 three-point attempts per game, the second-lowest rate in the NBA. However, “probable” clearly indicates that Monk is expected to participate, and the Rockets are competing on the second night of a back-to-back schedule. Fatigue manifests itself by pursuing an individual, such as Monk, around the periphery.
